Automobile support



A. E. COONEY. AUTOMOBILE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1920.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

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5W a/hw 12 m Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

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f A. E. COONEY. AUTOMOBILE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1920.

9m w A 2J 1. fi 5 mm m. M g M Z .l ll M G 9 rs ALBERT E. COONEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DODGE BROTHEIQQ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE SUPPORT.

Application filed May 26,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. Cooxnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deti oit, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Supports, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to decking systems for supporting automobiles in freight cars during shipment, and has for its ObJEC-t the provision ofa construction for this purpose of minimum cost and weight, which may be readily set up and taken down, and which provides a large space underneath a supported automobile.

In carrying out the foregoing objects, a feature of my invention consists in provlding a structure made of steel, thereby securing lightness combined with strength.

Owing to the fact that freight cars dlffer in width, a. further feature of my invention consists in providing a supporting structure having certain of its parts adjustable, whereby these varying widths of cars are compensated for.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and claims when taken in connection with the accompanylng drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved decking structure.

Fig. 2, a rear elevation thereof.

FignB, a side elevation of the same.

Fig.4, atop plan view of one side of the supporting structure for the rear axle of the automobile;

Fig. 5, a top plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the rear brackets, showing the adjustable block;

Fig. 6, a side elevation of the parts shown in 5; and

Fig. 7, a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 8, a modified form of construction showing a cast adjustable block 1n front elevation; and Fig. 9, a side v1ew of the same. I

Referring to the drawings, especially to Figs. 1 and 3, my invention 1s shown in position in a freight can having sides v1 and floor 2. Resting upon and extending vertically from the floor on either side of the car are brace members, including a vertical member 3 and a horizontal arm 4, extending at right angles to the mem- '192o. Serial No. 384,309.

were

her 3 from the side of the freight car towards the centre thereof, a diagonal 5 extending from the horizontal arm 4 to the member 3.

As shown in the drawings, tlr'e member 3 and arm 4 are made of steel channels though other structural steel shapes such as I beams, angles or Ts, may be used if found convenient. \If desired, the corner formed by the junction of each member 3 and arm 4 may be additionally reinforced by triangular plates 6 suitably secured in place by rivets or bolts. Also, if desired, angle irons 7 and 12 may be provided. Mounted on the horizontal arm 4 of each brace member is a block 8 which is'-recessed to accommodate one end of the axle of the automobile. Owing to the fact that freight cars vary somewhat in width,

To provide for ready adjustment of theblocks 8 along the horizontal arm 4 of each brace member, an angle iron 12 is secured to the end of each block as shown in Fi 1, 5 and 6, and a bolt passing through t e horizontal portion of each of the an le irons 12 also passes through holes bore at intervals along the channeled arm 4. The block may therefore be moved to position to properly support the automobile by mo"- ing the block 8 along the arm 4 and then placing the bolt 13 in the properhole of the arm 4 and tightening the bolt. In order to hold the block 8 more readily, I provide additional means for securing the block in the position corresponding to any hole to which it isadjusted. This additional securing means is preferably in the form of clamps 14 shown most clearly in Fig. 7.

These clamps as shown engage the under 7, side of the block 8, preferably bearing against the plate 9 and bent to engage the under portions of the sides of the channeled member 4. The bolts 11 pass through the clamps 14 so that when said bolts are tightened, block 8 is securely clamped against the arm 4 and serves-as an auxiliary means for holding the block in its various positions of adjustment. Instead of using wooden blocks to support the ends of the axles, the cast construction shown in Figure 8 maybe used. The cast block 17 is provided at its inner end with a recess having a Babbitt metal lining 18 formed to fit closely upon the axle. This lining being of soft metal will avoid damaging the finished surfaces of the axle. Attached to the block are the lugs 19 and 20 to which steel braces are attached. As will be noted from the examination of the drawing, the block is pro-- vided with guides shaped to fit the horizontal member 4 which in this figure is shown as a T bar. To secure the block in place at the proper distance from the center line of the freight car, the set screws 21 are provided.

The supporting braces for one axle of the automobile, preferably the front axle, do not require any lateral bracing to provide against any thrusts. these thrusts, the brace members for the rear axle of the automobile-in addition to the construction already describedare each provided with a horizontal brace 15, Figs. 3, 4:, 5 and 7, said brace 15 being [bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the block 8 and to the corner of the freight car. A brace 16 is also provided, said brace engaging the opposite side of the block 8 and extending diagonally downwardly and forwardly to the floor of the freight car, to which floor it may be suitably secured. It will be noted that all of the elements constituting the front brace members are seated in the same vertical plane, and that any thrusts are provided against by means of braces engaging the rear brace members. It will also be noted that by reason'of the fact that fewer members are necessary to form a rigid structure, by reason of the use of steel instead of wood, ample space is provided underneath the supported automobile;

What I claim as new is:

' 1. In an automobile decking system for freight cars, in combination, a brace member for supporting one axle of the automobile, said brace member having its elements substantially in one vertical plane, a second brace member for the other axle, said second brace member comprising a brace extending from the side of the freight car horizontally towards the centre thereof, a brace member extending from said first mentioned member in a horizontal direction to the side of the freight car, and another, brace member co-operating with said hori- 2. In an automobile deckingsystem for freight cars, in combination, a brace mem'-- ber for supporting one axle of the automo- To take care ofbile, said brace member made-of steel and other axle of the automobile, and means 00- operating therewith for bracing the automobile agamst end thrusts.

4. In an automobile freight cars, in combination, abrace member for supporting an axle of the automobile, said brace member including an arm decking system for I extending horizontally from the: side of the freight car towards the. centre thereof, a block recessed for receiving the said automobile axle, and two separate means for securing said block in each of several positions of adjustment along said horizontal arm.

5. In an automobile decking system for freight cars, in combination, a brace member for supporting one axle of the automobile, said brace member including a horizontal arm made of flanged steel, said arm extending from the side of the freight car towards the centre thereof, a block bored car towards the centre thereof, a block recessed for receiving said automobile axle, and means engaging said blookand the under portions of-the sides of said arm for clamping said block at various positions along said arm. n

7. In an automobile decking system for freight cars, in combination, a brace mem-' ber for supporting one axle ofv the automobile, saidbrace' member. including a horizontal arm made-of flangedsteel, said arm extending from the side ofthe freight car towards the centre thereof, a block bored for receiving said automobile axle, clamps engaging said block and the under portions of the sides of the arm, and bolts passin through said clampsand said block whereby the latter is secured in different posit1ons along said arm.

8. In an automobile decking system for freight cars, in combination, a brace member for supporting one axle of the automobile, said brace member including a horizontal arm made of flanged steel, said arri" extending from the side of the freight car towards the centre thereof, a block recessed for receiving said automobile axle, a plate carried on the underside of said block, clamps bearing against said plate and bent to engage the under portions of the sides of said arm, and bolts passing through said clamps and said block to secure the latter in different positions along said arm.

9. In an automobile decking system for freight cars, in combination, a brace member for supporting one axle of the automobile, said brace member including a horizontal arm made of flanged steel, said arm extending from the side of the freight car towards the centre thereof, a block recessed for receiving said automobile axle, and means carried by said block-engaging holes in said horizontal arm to hold the block in difl'erent positions of adjustment along said arm, andauxiliary means for holding said bkick in the position corresponding to any ho e.

10. In an automobile decking system for freight cars, in combination, a brace member for supporting one axle of the automobile, said brace member including a llOllzontal arm made of flanged steel, said arm extending from the side of the freight car towards the centre thereof, a block recessed for receiving said automobile axle, and means carried by said block for engaging holes in said horizontal arm to hold the block in different positions of adjustment along said-arm, and means engaging said block and the under portions of the sides of said arm for clamping said block in position corresponding to any hole.

Signed at Detroit, Michigan this 22nd day of April, 1920.

ALBERT E. COONEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. FURSE, Ammo H. KNIGHT. 

